The haka - Maori traditional challenge (UPDATE)

The rugby international tournament is taking place at the moment. We used to live in Twickenham, the home of English rugby, and enjoyed the atmosphere around town when there were big matches. The crowds are very well behaved (unlike soccer supporters), drinking together at the local pubs before and after the matches, all in their colourful and sometimes humorous attire.

England/Wales supporters

South Africans

French supporter

A couple of Irish fans

One of the highlights of this competition is the haka, performed by the New Zealand All Blacks.

From Wikipedia:

Although the use of haka by the All Blacks rugby union team and the Kiwis rugby league team has made one type of haka familiar, it has led to misconceptions. Haka are not exclusively war dances but were traditionally performed by men. In modern times, various haka have been composed to be performed by women and even children. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements, occasions or funerals.

War haka (peruperu) were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition. Today, haka constitute an integral part of formal or official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors or foreign dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion.

Various actions are employed in the course of a performance, including facial contortions such as showing the whites of the eyes and the poking out of the tongue, and a wide variety of vigorous body actions such as slapping the hands against the body and stamping of the feet. As well as chanted words, a variety of cries and grunts are used. Haka may be understood as a kind of symphony in which the different parts of the body represent many instruments. The hands, arms, legs, feet, voice, eyes, tongue and the body as a whole combine to express courage, annoyance, joy or other feelings relevant to the purpose of the occasion.

The haka before a rugby match is a challenge to the other team, as explained by a former player:



Here's an example of the haka performed by a Maori dance group:



The All Blacks challenge South Africa's national team, the Springboks:



Some people find the haka controversial, but Peter and I really enjoy it. We know the players get on very well and that the whole thing is just part of pre-match tradition. Tonga and Samoa also perform the haka before their matches, but the New Zealand one is the best. They beat England yesterday in an exciting match, including a very good haka!

UPDATE

Lynn in VA posted the link to this lovely haka:



Thanks, Lynn.